How Factory Audits, Inspections, and Lab Tests Fit Together

I am often asked questions such as “what is the difference between audits and inspections” or “why are lab tests necessary if you send an inspector”. In this article, I will show how these three types of solutions from Sofeast … Continue reading →

Negotiating the tooling transfer process can be really hard for importers who are moving to a new Chinese supplier. And making it work in practice takes some planning. It is far more complex than picking up and delivering a package. If … Continue reading →

There are two complementary approaches to improve IP protection for manufacturers and reduce the risks of your IP being infringed when developing and manufacturing products in Asia. Use legal methods, such as an NNN agreement. Use strategies outside of the … Continue reading →

Discovering how to reduce quality defects to almost zero from Chinese suppliers is a common request from our clients who are tired of hearing suppliers say “this is made by hand, so avoiding defects is impossible”. Are you tired of … Continue reading →

Clients often approach us to help them to find another supplier due to the fact that their current supplier has hit them with an unexpected price rise either when they tried to reorder, or sometimes even during production. Sounds familiar? … Continue reading →

We are often asked how to improve price negotiation with Chinese suppliers in order to lower purchase costs. Indeed, negotiating a better price from suppliers helps cut costs and, therefore, increases your profits, so it’s a worthwhile activity.

We often face the situation where our clients’ orders are being delayed and the lead time is extended. So, how to reduce lead times from your Chinese suppliers? Read on for 6 tips.

What are some of the most common communication problems with Chinese suppliers that cause problems for our clients when they come to us for help?